In a scientific culture that values quantity over quality charges of plagiarism should be neither surprising nor unbelievable. The obsessive drive to publish, to garner as many references and citations as possible, is extremely unhealthy. Quantity has become the enemy of quality and individual responsibility. I am always amazed when scientists and authors boast (or have others boast for them) about their CVs containing hundreds of publications. In my opinion this should be considered a badge of shame. The author is, essentially, admitting that he or she is willing to take credit for work for which he or she has had no involvement.

But big guns like Thomas Luscher are western culture’s last true heroes! Onward they ride, on the backs of their lessers, to glory!

*********************

The Charge of the Write Brigade

Half a league, half a league,
Half a league onward,
All in the valley of Theft
Wrote the six hundred.
“Forward, the Write Brigade!
Ghost for the big guns!” he said:
Into the valley of Theft
Wrote the six hundred.

Once upon a midnight dreary,
While I pondered, weak and weary,
Over many volumes of stolen lore.
While I copied, instead of napping,
Suddenly there came a tapping,
As if the cops were gently rapping,
Breaking down my chamber door.
Only this and nothing more.
Best from Beit Shemesh,
Janet

“Forward the Write Brigade!”
Was a disclosure made?
No copy editor knew
Pharma had funded:
Theirs not to make reply,
Theirs not to reason why,
Theirs but to write and lie:
Into the valley of Theft
Wrote the six hundred.

Ethics to right of them,
Ethics to left of them,
Ethics in front of them
Volley’d and thunder’d;
Knowing these rules too well,
Boldly they tried to sell
Lies in the cause of Death.
Into the mouth of Hell
Wrote the six hundred.

Until proven innocent
Blood stains his hands,
Thrown mud, fierce intent,
Sticks where it lands.
Let rascals run riot
And say what they will,
True facts? (keep them quiet!)
We move in for the kill,
Sneered the six hundred.